Can I Borrow Your Pen?

[ethernautrix]

Occasionally I'm asked by a stranger to borrow my pen. For instance, recently I was on a plane and customs forms were passed out to everyone. I filled out the form with my fountain pen and when I was done the fellow in the seat next to me says "Let me borrow your pen for a minute." The answer is always some version of no, but I'm curious what others say in these circumstances. With cheap throw-away pens being ubiquitous, people are sometimes dumbfounded when I refuse.

 

I usually say something like "Oh sorry this is a fountain pen (as though that explains everything). Let me see if I have a pen you can use." I actually do carry a ballpoint just for this purpose in my briefcase, but it is not always with me. I get strange puzzled looks. Only rarely does anybody ask for a further explanation. It is most awkward when someone asks if I have a pen they can borrow (when I'm clearly holding a pen) and I have to say "I do have a pen, but sorry it's not one you can borrow."

 

Clark

 

Without reading further, "Let me borrow your pen for a minute" is not the way to ask to borrow my pen, and the answer is no. Probably apologetically, cos I was raised right.

[ethernautrix]

Okay. As for people who know how to ask to borrow a pen, I will volunteer a non-fountain pen.

[haruka337]

I usually carry one or two throw-away pens for people to borrow when at work or in public (I get asked often). If I only have a fountain, it's an inflexible "no".

I've had a cashier ruin a nib, an old boss mess the tines out of alignment, people mindlessly drop a pen or a good number complain that "it doesn't work". If it's a stranger or co-worker, there really isn't time for a tutorial on how to use a fountain pen.

If it's family or friends, or if a co-worker asks about my fountain pens during a break, I don't mind then. I can explain it, show it, instruct so that I can rest assured that my pens shall not be destroyed and that the other party will have a positive experience with a fountain pen.

[Dragonmaster Lou]

I haven't come across this situation myself, yet... but among the pens I keep in my briefcase (or any other travel bag I may be using), I keep/plan on keeping at least one roller ball pen for use in situations where fountain pens just wouldn't work right. One such situation would be to loan to someone else.

[ISW_Kaputnik]

In addition to my fountain pens, I always have a little Fisher Bullet Space pen in a pants pocket. If I'm going to lend a pen to a stranger, that's the one that it will be. I decide based on the situation; even lending a ballpoint is not a given, although I generally will if they ask pleasantly and it's only going to be for a moment.

 

It's not really just a matter of fountain pens, or even "good" pens. I'm annoyed by people who never have a pen of their own with them, apparently because they assume they can always borrow one when they need one. I like to undercut that assumption.

[httpmom]

It's not really just a matter of fountain pens, or even "good" pens. I'm annoyed by people who never have a pen of their own with them, apparently because they assume they can always borrow one when they need one. I like to undercut that assumption.

I'm annoyed when I leave the house without a pen because someone in the family got into my purse and took it out without putting it back and they I must ask some unsuspecting person if I can please borrow their pen...ha!

[AAAndrew]

I hand it over, uncapped, while saying,"Have you ever used a fountain pen before?" Some immediately hand it back, some smile, say yes and start talking about their FP days and some say no and I give some quick "instructions." I haven't had a pen damaged and have had some pleasant conversations.

 

This is what I do unless all I have is a particularly precious one and the person who wants to borrow it seems likely to be a clod. I carry a Fisher Space Pen bullet pen in my pocket for just such emergencies.

[marcelo]

I did the same thing. Keep the cap and never let the pen out of your sight.

Nice approach, especially the "never let the pen out of your sight" part.

[Koyote]

I've let people use my FPs in meetings and such...And the world did not end.

 

 

Though I will admit to being a bit touchy about my Sheaffer Targa, which was a college graduation gift from my grandfather. When someone asks to borrow that pen, my response -- depending on the person asking -- is "I've had this pen for thirty years because I don't loan it out."

Edited July 27, 2015 by Koyote

[tkmorrison]

a Safari/Al-Star is kind of a good pen to use on the uninitiated.

You seem like a very kind person, which is why I think you'll have a sense of humor that my inner third grader wants to tell you I initially read this (on my phone) as "a Safari is kind of a good pen to use on the urinated"

 

That hasty read, BTW, should indicate neither that I have a poor opinion of Safaris nor that I deem people who do not use FPs as a fictitious though fantastic class known as "the urinated." It indicates only that progressive lenses are at best imperfect in reading mode.

[Sasha Royale]

Be honest. "Yes." Then, I hand over a bp or my Parker 45, etc. If it is a "non-loaner", the answer is "No."

 

If questioned politely, I might qualify with, "This is not a pen that I lend."

 

If challenged, LOOK OUT ! If you ask, I accept the right to decline. If I do not have the right to decline, then it is a DEMAND. LOOK OUT !

[brunico]

For me, as Koyote says.

 

If I have a nib that's a bit delicate, I say so when I lend the pen - just as I would with a 0.1mm fineliner. Otherwise, I don't say anything at all. I certainly don't plan to waste money on a ballpoint, let alone go to the trouble of carrying one around all the time to lend to people.

[Runnin_Ute]

Depends on the situation. I have done both. If I do I always say "light touch" unless I know they know how to use properly.

[thatotherguy1]

I don't like lending pens that cost more than about a dollar apiece out to people I don't trust to not destroy it or forget to give it back to me. So, usually my answer to the "can I borrow your pen" is "you can't borrow this one, but here's my Skilcraft ballpoint for you to use. Make sure I get it back."

 

If they are rude about it or are demanding in how they ask, the answer is usually no out of principle. "Hey, give me your pen" gets a swift "Nope." from me. Even if I'm using something that I would have let them borrow if they had asked nicely, it's a no.

 

In the end, it's my pen, paid for with my money, which I earned, and therefore I get to choose who uses it and who doesn't. If the prospective borrower dislikes that mentality, so be it. I've just had one too many pens lost and/or broken because I lent them out- and those were ballpoints.

[ajcoleman]

I have loaned out fountain pens on occasion. When they ask, I warn them it is a fountain pen, and if they don't change their mind I uncap it and hand it to them saying "hold it this side up and use a light touch." It hasn't happened often, but so far none have been lost or returned any worse for the wear.

[Dronak]

It's rather rare for someone to ask me to borrow a pen. What I'd do probably depends on what pens I have on hand at the time. I think that my first choice would be to offer a ballpoint, assuming one is available. I usually have some around, but they might not be immediately on hand. So if not, and I had a cheaper fountain pen, I might let someone use it (keeping the cap to help ensure I get it back) noting that they need to write more lightly with it than with a ballpoint. The more expensive the fountain pen though, the less likely I think I'd be to lend it to someone, especially someone not familiar with using fountain pens, for fear that it would get damaged.

 

If I really didn't want to loan out my fountain pen, but had no ballpoint pen and felt like I had to do something to help, I do have a sort of last resort option. The little pocket knife I carry has a small ballpoint pen in it, which ought to work for a fairly small writing job. I could let someone use that instead.

[PS104]

I suspect that the people who ask to borrow a pen are the same ones that came to school without a pen.

Any establishment that requires you do writing usually has several pens for people to use. Albeit they're on chains attached to the writing table.

[Dragonmaster Lou]

At this point, the vast majority of ballpoints I've got are various freebies I got from hotels, conferences, etc... I think I keep a few in my bags just out of laziness. I guess I can make them the official loaner pens, lol.

[Mr. Dante]

A long time ago, I was at a meeting and an acquaintance asked to borrow my Waterman Laureat to write a note. It was my first FP, a gift from my wife. After writing a note with it, he capped it and for some reason became animated and started thumping the table with my pen at the bottom end, to emphasize something he was saying. I watched with horror and immediately snatched it from his hand. He barely noticed. Thankfully, my Laureat was undamaged. Nowadays, I usually carry a ballpoint or rollerball also, and usually offer that pen when asked to borrow one. I do keep watch because my ballpoints and rollerballs are not throwaways.

 

Another experience I recall was about ten years ago. I was at a judicial mediation and settled the case. When it was time for everyone to sign the memorandum of settlement, the Judge (retired) didn't have a pen at hand, so I offered him my Aurora Mare. He accepted my pen, looked at it for a second with what seemed like disapproval to me, and signed the memo. I never learned why he reacted this way. Strange.

 

A final thought, from another thread. Would you let someone borrow your underwear? If so, then I will politely try to change the subject with you. If not, then why would you let someone borrow your pen?

Edited July 28, 2015 by Mr. Dante

[dgreenwood116]

i cannot remember the last time a stranger asked me to borrow my pen. I guess I need to get out more!

 

What you need to say is No I do not have a pen you can borrow, then put the pen you are holding in your hand back in your pocket.

 

I think that is what I would do if asked.

If thats the case, maybe just stay in. Be more inviting! Spread the fortune of fountain pens!

 

I always carry two, one fairly expensive- one cheap, so i'd just warn them about pressure and let them try!

 

 

Someone did this today, and I handed her my Metropolitan. Before she uncapped it, I said, "It's a fountain pen, though." She uncapped it and looked quite excited. While writing it, she told me that she's been wanting to get a fountain pen, and so now she and I are going to go to a local pen store within the next couple of weeks so that I can help her choose her first fountain pen.

I love these stories too! It's about the picture perfect story for making a "fountain pen friend" out in the wild. I've yet to have the chance, but one day!